After warming up with a few all-comers meets, Tara Davis returns to the indoor circuit in pursuit of all-time records.
The all-comers season will heat up this weekend, with the first two Winter Championships qualifiers as well as many other meets around the state. Athletes from California will also be competing indoors this weekend, at two large out-of-state meets:
UW Indoor Preview (Seattle)
A handful of California's best will head north this weekend to compete and college (and a few professional) athletes at the University of Washington's large indoor facility. Chief among them is Tara Davis (Agoura), who will be in her normal triple: 60 Hurdles, Long Jump, & Triple Jump. Can't wait to see the numbers she can put up in ideal conditions against big time competition! Tierra Crockrell (Calabasas) is also entered in three events: 60 Dash, 60 Hurdles, and 200. Kaylah Robinson (El Cerrito) is in the 200 and will also be in the hurdles, making it a rematch of the 2016 CIF state meet and a possible 3-way CA showdown if somehow they can all make the finals.
Alexis Surrell (Newark Memorial) is running the 200 and 400 (the latter of which got her to the state meet last spring). Joining Davis in the long & triple will be Westlake's Noelle Schiller.
National Pole Vault Summit (Reno)
This is arguably the most anticipated event of the year for dedicated vaulters. It brings together athletes of all levels (youth, high school, college, and professional) in a completely unique environment - over 20 sets of runways and mats with simultaneous competition! California has been one of the biggest participants, due to its close proximity and our large and active vaulting community. In fact, for many jumpers this is the only event in which they compete until the outdoor season officially opens.
Unfortunately, the Summit doesn't release information on entries beforehand, so we have to speculate on who will attend. Athletes who have gone once tend to go back, however, so let's start there. Tate Curran (Redondo Union) made the trip to Reno last year, clearing 15' 6" there as a prelude to cracking the 16-foot barrier in the spring. We also hope to see a return trip by national leader Rachel Baxter (Canyon Anaheim Hills), so we can get an idea of how ridiculous she is going to be during the outdoor season to come. McKenna Caskey (Mater Dei), CA #3 and US #7 last spring and the #2 returner in the state, also participated here last year and could use the event as a springboard for an attempt to join Baxter in the 14 foot club. All told, over 120 California athletes competed at this meet in 2016, and it will be fun to sift through the results and see who has made big progress since the end of last track season!